Friction clutch



D. E. GAMBLE FRICTION CLUTCH Sept. 1, 1931.

Filed Aug. 19, 1929 Patented Sept. 1, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEDAVID E. GAMBLE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE BORG & BECKCOMPANY,

OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS FRICTION CLUTCHApplication filed August 19, 1929. Serial No. 386,854.

This invention relates to friction clutches and it is especially adaptedfor those clutches which are employed in automobiles and other motordriven vehicles.

The principal object 'of the invention is to hold the levers which areemployed for releasing the pressure ring substantially rigid in allpositions thereof so as to eliminate play between the parts and the wearand noise m which would result therefrom. 7

And a further object of the invention is to p'ovide wear plates on thepressure ring to engaged by the levers and which can be renewed asrequired.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating a selected embodiment of myinvention a Fig. 1 is a section on line 1-1 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 2 is an elevation.

Referring to the drawings 3 is the cover plate of the clutch which isprovided with sockets 4 to receive springs 5 which bear directly uponthe thrust or pressure ring 6 and press the friction faced driven plate7 26 into engagement with the flywheel 8 which is made fast to thedriving or crank shaft 9. The cover plate is secured to the flywheel bybolts 10 and the driven plate 7 has a hub 11 to receive the drivenshaft. Levers 12 are provided with pivot pins 13 which are pivotallymounted in lugs 14 on the cover plate. Posts 15 on the pressure plateproject outward through openings 16 in the cover plate between the lugs14 and wear plates 17 are removably secured on the outer ends of theseposts b bolts 18. Each post is stepped or recesse at 19 and the wearplate pro ects in- .wardly over this recess to be engaged by a rojection20 on the outer end of the lever 12.

pring-pressed studs 21 are mounted in the posts to engage projections 20on the levers,-

the arrangement being such that the springpressed studs engage the saidprojections on one side to force the projections on their opposite sideinto constant engagement with thewearplates. The levers 12 are radiallydisposed and their inner ends are adapted to be operated b a releasedevice which may comprise a ball earing collar 22 and a yoke lever 23 orother suitable means The levers 12 are held by the spring-pressed studs21 substantially rigid in any position thereof and in contact with thewear plates 17. The studs press against the projections on the outerends of the levers and press these projections into constant engagementwith w the wear plates so that the levers are constantly held againstany-tendency to rattle while-the clutch is-in engagement. When therelease device is caused to operate the levers for withdrawing thepressure ring'the levers will then be held against any tendency torattle; but at all times the spring-pressed studs hold the projectionson the levers which are, in fact, the outer ends of the levers, inconstant contact with the wear plates to eliminate play between theseparts and the wear and'noise which would result therefrom. The wearplates 17 may be replaced as often as required and the bolts formingconvenient means for permitting this to be done easily.

I have shown the invention in a simple embodiment in one type of clutchbut it will be understood that this is for. purposes of illustrationanddescription and the invention maybe used in other types of clutcheswith such changes in the construction and arrangement of parts as may benecessary to adapt it to different constructions and within the scope ofthe following claims:

I claim:

In a friction clutch,the combination of a cover plate having openingstherein, a pressure ring having posts projecting outwardly through saidopenings, lugs on the cover plate adj aoent said openings, wear platesremovably secured on the outer ends of the posts and projecting inwardlybeyond the posts, levers pivotally mounted in said lugs,

projections on the outer ends ofsaid levers, and spring-pressed studs inthe posts bearing against the said projections and holding saidprojections in contact with the wear plates.

DAVID E. GAM'BLE.

